DOLITTLE

US, 2020, 105 minutes, Colour.
Robert Downey Jr, Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Jesse Buckley, Harry Collett, Kasia Smutniak, Carmel Laniado.
Voices of: Emma Thompson, Remi Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nunjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Marion Cotillard, Frances de la all Tour, Jason Mantzoukas.

Is it Dr Dolittle? That Dr Dolittle, the doctor who talks to the animals? Yes it is – although Dolittle is, in fact, the name of Eliza Doolittle’s father. This one is definitely Dr Dolittle.

Those not as young as they used to be may well remember Rex Harrison and his recitative songs and the Push Me- Pull You. More recently, Eddie Murphy was Dr Dolittle, twice. Hugh Lofting stories have always been popular.

The target audience here is definitely the children’s audience, costumes and spectacle, Dr Dolittle’s castle for the animals, Queen Victoria‘s sick room, a voyage to the South Seas, a mysterious moat kingdom, caves and dragons. And, there are lots and lots of animals, talking animals, done with special effects but looking extremely realistic. (However, for British animals, there are a lot of American accents and anachronistic Americanisms.)

There is not so much for the adults who will be accompanying the children, the comedy being very broad, flatulence and body jokes, comic villains, fights, and the confrontation with the Dragon. One very climactic moment to soothe the savage beast is the dock withdrawing from the Dragon’s stomach all the metal and armour, odd bits of garbage, from the Dragon in pain with the final relief of the withdrawal of a bagpipe!

So, here is Robert Downey Jr as Dr Dolittle. At first he appears in animated form with Polly the Parrot narrating Dr Dolittle’s history, his healing the animals, his ability to talk to the animals, his meeting his soul-mate, Lily, her going on an expedition and disappearing from his life. Robert Downey is not so convincing as the doctor. This cartoon prologue is well done and sounds very good, expertly spoken by Emma Thompson. Polly is one of the most significant creatures in Dolittle’s life getting him back to heal the animals again.

And, to match the special effects animals, there is a very wide range of star voices, Rami Malek as the huge but easily intimidated gorilla, Ralph Fiennes as the menacing tiger…

The action involves a little boy, Stubbins (Harry Collett) son of a hunter who finds he cannot kill animals, especially the squirrel he accidentally hurts – but Polly to the rescue. She leads him to Dolittle’s home, only to find a dishevelled Dolittle unwilling to help. Needless to say, he is eventually going to help, especially when summoned to the bedside of a mysteriously ill Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley).

The adventure gets rather wild when it seems she has been poisoned and the only remedy is in a far and inaccessible island. And, we find, it is ruled by a rather piratical looking Antonio Banderas. So, lots of adventures on the island, pursued by the jealous doctor played by Michael Sheen, all building up to that confrontation with the Dragon and relief from the bagpipe.

As has been said, the appeal is definitely to the younger audiences, adults possibly finding it a bit hard going to keep up enthusiasm.

1. The popularity of Hugh Lofting stories? The film version of the 1960s? Comedy, musical? This film half a century later

2. The 19th century setting, Dr Dolittle’s castle and interiors, the grounds? The visit to Queen Victoria, her sick room, costumes and decor? The transition to the voyage, the seas, the island and kingdom, the rocks, the Dragon’s lair? Imaginative settings? Period settings? The musical score?

3. The introduction, Polly and her explanation of Dr Dolittle and his situation, the style of the animation and its charm? Dolittle and the animals, healing, the encounter with Lily, sharing the expedition, marrying, his staying at home, her voyage, disappearance? His mourning her, going into seclusion, not working with the animals?

4. Stubbins, his father and brother, out hunting, the birds, the boy and his reluctance, hurting the squirrel, saving him, Polly leading him on, to Dr Dolittle’s castle, getting inside, the challenge to the doctor?

5. The doctor, dishevelled, beard, reluctant to do anything?

6. The range of animals, special effects, lifelike? The range of the voices, the strong voice cast? The behaviour of the animals, the cowardly gorilla, the polar bear, Polly, the duck, the insects…? (The effect of so many American accents and 21st century Americanisms?)

7. Queen Victoria, ill, Lady Rose summoning him, her encounter with Stubbins, confronting Dr Dolittle? His going to the Palace? Her illness, the mystery, the doctor and his pomposity, the other courtiers?

8. The diagnosis, the poisoning, the information, the need to go to the island, the time limit?

9. The voyage, the doctor, the animals, the comedy of the voyage? Stubbins and his becoming Dr Dolittle’s apprentice, sharing in all the adventures, the palace, on the trip, on the island? The arrival in the kingdom? The leader, looking like a pirate, his reactions to Dr Dolittle, his henchmen, the Tiger? Treatment of the animals?

10. Dr Dolittle, the animals, getting to the island, Queen Victoria’s doctor, his pursuit, his evil intentions? Discovering the Dragon, the hostility of the Dragon, the illness, Dr Dolittle and his treatment, the range of contents of the stomach, the finality with the bagpipe? And flatulence jokes?

11. The enemy Doctor, the confrontation, his falling down the pit? (And his fate during the final credits?)

12. The Queen, seeming to die, too late? The hostility of the courtier, accused of poisoning the Queen, unmasked? The drops on the Queen’s lips? Her revival?

13. A happy ending, Dr Dolittle resuming his work and continuing to talk to the animals?